Chapter Nine
Mandi glanced around when Jaz pulled into the Katz parking lot. “What are we doing here? I don’t work tonight.” The lot was pretty empty save for a few cars she recognized, a few trucks she didn’t and a few bikes she’d like to get to know better.
“No, you don’t, but … I sorta do.”
She turned surprised eyes on him. “You do? Since when did Jackie hire you back on?”
He shrugged. “It’s a special event. I won’t be working long, and when I’m done, we can go if you want.”
Uh-huh. “So let me get this straight. Jackie gives me the awesome birthday present of you, the weekend off, but then she asks you to work a special event?”
“Yeah.” He pulled into a spot in front of the building and put the Charger in park. “Feel free to take it up with her.”
“I will be happy to.”
Jaz grinned and got out of the car. He was acting a little weird, and it made her a little uneasy. He opened her door, helped her out, and kept hold of her hand.
His palm was a little clammy and there was a slight tremble in his fingers, but his face betrayed nothing. Yeah, something was going on. That uneasy feeling churned in her belly and she didn’t like it.
Jaz opened the door to Katz for her and followed her inside. It was dark, there was no sound, there were no people, no—
“SURPRISE!”
Okay, there were people. Lots of them. And lights and noise and … Her hands flew to her mouth and she took an unconscious step back. Jaz’s solid body braced her from behind. He wrapped an arm around her collarbone and held her tight against him. “Oh God.”
Mandi’s heart skittered to a stop then picked up speed. A surprise party. For her.
“Gotcha.”
Jackie and her megawatt smile had come to hug her, and Mandi wrapped her arms tight around her friend. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I don’t know why not. You’ve never had a surprise party and, well, now you have.”
It was true. She’d never had one, and while a small part of her had always hoped for one, she’d never expected one. Ever. “How long have you been planning this?”
“Since you said you’d come work for me for a while.”
“You couldn’t have known I’d fall for him.”
“No, I had no idea you’d rather have a badass than a buttoned-up suit, but I should have. He was the icing on your cake, so to speak, once I realized the attraction ran both ways.”
Mandi looked in the direction Jaz had gone. As soon as Jackie had come forward, he’d squeezed Mandi and kissed the top of her head, telling her he’d be back shortly. He went off to talk to his friends and they were … She turned her attention back to Jackie. “What are they doing?”
“It’s part of your surprise. You didn’t know they had a band?”
A band? “No. I didn’t know.”
“Oh yeah. Jaz is their drummer. He’s pretty good, too. Hell, he’s pretty damn good at everything he ever tried. Creative little shit. No matter what it is, he can turn it into gold. He’s got so much talent. He couldn’t sit still when he got out of jail. Between working for me and tattooing at the shop, there were still hours left in the day. Usually the middle of the night or the crack of dawn. I don’t think he slept more than a couple hours at a time.
“He came to me a few months after he got out and said he wanted to play the drums. Between us, we had a set custom designed for him. He started taking lessons early mornings from the local high school music teacher. It wasn’t long and he was on his own with it. The teacher said he didn’t have anything else to teach him. Jaz had the technique. He also has an ear. He can hear any beat, any cadence, and play it after only hearing a few bars. We keep them here because he can make all the noise he wants after hours. And about a year or so before you came to town, he the other three came up with the band idea. They’re not bad for a garage band.”
“I had no idea.” He was a musician, a drummer no less. That explained a few things, she thought with an inner smile. It especially explained his coordination when he played with her body. How he could touch her with such finesse, with such precision. The way he could manipulate her responses …
Jackie was right. Jaz was a creative little shit.
“He’s been fucking nervous too.”
Jackie’s comment drew Mandi’s undivided attention. “Why?”
“Girl, he’s got it so bad for you.”
“Well, that’s no reason to be nervous.”
“For him it is. He might look gruff and mean, but he’s a marshmallow inside.”
A damn lusty-hot-as-fucking-hell-she-was-surprised-he-hadn’t-melted-from-the-inside-out marshmallow. “I’m not sure he’d appreciate you saying that.”
Jackie laughed. “No, but so long as only you and I know I said it, it’s all good.” She took Mandi by the hand and started walking. “Let’s introduce you to a few people.”
“Might be a good idea.”
She was then introduced to Elise who was Vinter’s girlfriend and Carrie, who was Dallon’s. Mandi had met both Vinter and Dallon over the past few months, but hadn’t met the women in their lives. Turned out, Elise had recently moved closer to the small town after meeting Vinter in his bar, or was it Dallon’s bar?
“They all own it. Like they all own the tattoo parlor. They split it three ways.”
“Oh. Well, what does Vinter do if Jaz runs the tattoo place and Dallon runs the bar?”
The blush that covered Elise from her low-cut blouse to her heart-shaped face was priceless. And telling. Mandi couldn’t help but blush herself, feeling the heat creep up. She couldn’t stop herself from glancing around for Jaz. Her eyes locked with his from across the room and how the hell she read what his look said, she’d never know.
He was in front of her before she could blink. And he didn’t even give her a chance to excuse herself from the conversation she’d been having. He had her down the hallway with his mouth on hers, her body hiked up the wall, and her legs wrapped around him.
Damn, but he took her breath away.
“You can’t look at me like that,” he growled at her.
“Like what?”
“Like you can’t get enough.”
“Well, I can’t, but I didn’t think that’s what that look said.”
“Trust me, that’s exactly what that look said.”
“Okay, so does that mean I can’t look at you at all then? ’Cause I’m pretty sure I always look at you like I can’t get enough.”
Jaz laughed and gave a slight upward thrust, rubbing his hard cock against the crotch of her jeans. Damn they both had way too many clothes on.
“You’re doing it again.”
“You could blindfold me.”
“I could. And tie you up.”
Desire flowed like lava through her veins. “You should,” she whispered hot and low in his ear.
“I still owe you birthday spankings.”
“Yes,” she hissed.
“Damn, woman.” He buried his face in her neck and licked at the pulse throbbing there.
She quivered in his arms and rocked her hips. She wanted him. Now. Would anyone see? Would anyone notice? Would she give a crap if they did? “Damn, man.”
“Damn, you two. We got a show to do for the lady. Let her down, you animal. You can maul her later.”
They both looked up and found Vinter standing at the end of the hall. He was shirtless and his jeans rode so damn low on his hips. He wore a pair of black boots, and had Jaz not been holding her up against the wall, she’d have melted into the floor.
She’d known Vinter had tats but she never knew they covered him everywhere. At least everywhere she could see at the moment. They were so bright and so detailed. She caught a glimpse of metal in one of his nipples, too.
The man was nothing but pure walking sex.
No wonder Elise blushed the color of a fire engine when Mandi asked what Vinter did. She’d meant for work though, but it was possible it didn't matter given the man’s … magnetism.
Vinter winked at her, shot a look of knowing and a scowl at Jaz and walked away.
“Is it true what they say?”
“About what?”
“You know, about him. About all the piercings up and down his … penis.” She whispered the last word, and it made her feel kind of naughty.
“I am not discussing some other man’s dick with you.”
Vinter was out of sight, but she was still looking at the spot he’d vacated. “I was only curious. It’s not like I can ask Elise about it.”
“Oh, but you can ask the man you’re sleeping with about it? Shit. And stop staring after him. Remember, girlie, he’s taken.”
Mandi couldn’t contain the smile that spilled over her lips at the Jaz’s grousing. As if he could doubt her lust for him. “I know he is.”
“Well, then put your tongue back in your mouth.”
She turned her head to look back at Jaz. There was laughter and heat in his eyes and not a bit of censure. “Why don’t I put it back in your mouth?”
* * * * *
She tried to look as casual as possible when she walked back to the table. She wasn’t quite sure she’d pulled it off, what with readjusting her top and tugging her jeans back down over her boots. Everything was a little out of focus. Well, everything except Jaz’s backside as he walked away from her. She had a very clear view of that.
“So, you get manhandled too?”
Mandi looked at Carrie and nodded. Was that the word for it? Did he manhandle her? Because if that’s what it was … She’d like for him to do a lot more of it. “It appears so.”
“They seem to like doing that at the most inappropriate of times,” Elise muttered.
“Speak for yourself. Anytime Dallon manhandles me is an appropriate time.”
“You’re as bad as they are.”
Carried smiled. Her face had that angelic look, but her eyes were full of wicked intent. “It’s that church upbringing and all.”
Elise snorted. “I’m sure it’s more than that.”
“I’ll never tell.”
Mandi watched the two women banter back and forth and laughed. She had a feeling she’d made new friends. It was a good feeling, too. Other than Jackie, she hadn’t had anyone she’d call a friend in years.
Jackie stopped at the high table they’d taken over and pulled up a chair. She nudged Mandi. “You having fun?”
“I am. Thank you.”
“I’m not all to blame. Jaz helped. I called your brothers, but they couldn’t get away this weekend. Something about a car show.”
“Yeah. It always falls on my birthday or on the weekend of. I don’t get to see them unless I go to them. Besides, I’m not sure they’re ready to meet Jaz.”
Jackie looked her square in the face and Mandi fought not to squirm under the stare. “Are you ready for them to meet him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow.”
“You’re both like blood to me.”
“I know. I—”
And she was gone. Mandi stared after Jackie. A man in a uniform stood inside the entrance. Mac, the Sheriff. He and Jackie stood toe to toe. Her chin jutted out when Mac got in her face, the tip of nose touching hers. When he stepped around her and walked away, Jackie stayed rooted to the spot, her hand covering her chest.
Mandi started to stand, but Jackie made her way to their table, flushed and flustered. Mandi had never seen her friend like that.
“You okay? What did Mac want?”
“I don’t know. We’ve been at each other since I opened up today.”
“Oh.” Mandi didn’t know what else to say and followed Jackie’s gaze toward the stage. Mac stepped up and shook hands with Jaz. He said something that made Jaz look up and right at her. Had he seen them in the tattoo shop after all?
“He plays rhythm guitar in their little band,” Jackie informed her.
“I've never seen him in the club.”
“He usually comes in the back and we meet in my office. The dancers don’t like cops hanging around.”
“I can understand that.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m good. I promise.” She squeezed Mandi’s hand and stood up. “Who wants a drink? On the house since it’s my girl Mandi’s birthday?”